Hyderabad techie surrenders after hit-and-run leaves 5-year-old on life support

Mangalore Today News Network

Hyderabad, Oct 04, 2016:  A five-year-old girl, Sanjana, is on life support and her mother is in a critical state after being run over by a software engineer allegedly driving drunk in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Venkatramana, who was allegedly driving his Hyundai Santro car while drinking with two friends, hit the child and her mother Sridevi, 36, when they were crossing the road after getting off a bus. Sanjana’s older sister Pravallika, 8, escaped as she had already crossed to the other side.

Leaving the mother and child bleeding on the road, the three men allegedly abandoned the car and ran away. All three surrendered nearly 24 hours later, on Monday evening.

That Venkatramana could access liquor or drink in public on October 2 - a dry day because of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary - has raised questions on police carelessness and the lack of proper checks.

Eyewitnesses say they saw the three friends drinking inside the car while speeding on the highway. The police also found liquor bottles and snacks in the car.

Sanjana is on the ventilator and her mother is being treated in a separate hospital. 

Three months ago Ramya, a Class 4 student, was killed along with her grandfather and uncle after their car was hit by another driven by a drunk engineering student.

The child was on her way home after her first day at a new school.

The driver, K Sharavil, was let off on bail on Friday because the police failed to file a charge-sheet within 90 days, as required by law. The police claim they did not get a forensic report on time.